Impact of intragranular microstructure development on ductility limits of multiphase steels

In this paper, the effects of microstructure and deformation mechanisms on the ductility of multiphase steels are investigated. To this end, a formability criterion based on loss of ellipticity of the boundary value problem is coupled with an advanced multiscale model accounting for intragranular microstructure development and evolution. The spatially heterogeneous distribution of dislocations inside the grain is represented by three types of local dislocation densities. The resulting large strain elastic–plastic single crystal constitutive law (based on crystal plasticity) is incorporated into a self-consistent scale-transition scheme. The present contribution focuses on the relationship between the intragranular microstructure of B.C.C. steels and their ductility. The model allows interesting comparisons in terms of formability limits for different dislocation networks, during monotonic loading tests applied to polycrystalline aggregates.

Research highlights
► Impact of microstructure and deformation mechanisms on the material ductility.
► A formability criterion is coupled with a refined multiscale constitutive model.
► Relationships between intragranular microstructure of B.C.C. steels and ductility.
► Interesting comparisons of formability limits for various dislocation networks.
► Theoretical/numerical tool intended to optimize the ductility of new steels.